ISO 14024:2026, released in May 2026, is a standard milestone in the field of ecolabels that manufacturers and brands should revisit to streamline their processes. The ISO public summary explains that this edition applies to the development of ecolabel programs, the selection of product categories, product environmental and functional standards, as well as the assessment and certification processes for authorized label use. It reminds the industry that ecolabels are not just graphics on packaging, but a system supported collectively by standards, evaluation, certification, and ongoing compliance.
The first level is formulation evidence. The U.S. EPA's Safer Choice program evaluates the chemical components in a formulation according to functional categories and requires that products and ingredients meet its standards before the corresponding label can be used. The focus here is not to treat a list of ingredients as a complete conclusion, but to ensure that the actual formulation, the identity of raw materials, supplier documents, and product versions correspond to each other; when changing materials, adjusting concentrations, or modifying fragrance types, it is also necessary to determine whether the original materials are still applicable.
The second level is performance evidence. 'Safer' does not mean that whether the product completes its intended cleaning task can be ignored. EPA public standards incorporate product performance requirements into their program framework; Green Seal's GS-8 also sets requirements for chemicals, packaging, verified performance, and labeling simultaneously. The testing methods and thresholds of different programs cannot be mixed, but they all indicate that improvements in environmental or health aspects still need to be verified together with the product's functional performance when used as directed.
The third level is packaging evidence. When the EPA updated the Safer Choice standards in 2024, it strengthened packaging requirements, including options for recycled materials, recyclability, or reusability, and set regulations for intentionally adding substances like PFAS. Green Seal and UL ECOLOGO also have their own packaging or material standards. Brands cannot make broad claims based only on the 'bottle feeling light' or 'material theoretically recyclable'; the materials, structure, supply chain documentation, and actual recycling conditions in the regions where the product is sold can all affect the statements made.
The fourth level is the dissemination of evidence. The U.S. FTC Green Guides emphasize that environmental claims need to avoid being misleading, and provide guidance on statements regarding certification marks, renewable materials, carbon offsets, and so on. Even if a product has obtained third-party certification, companies still need to accurately specify which product, which version, and which attributes are covered by the certification. They cannot generalize partial indicators as 'completely environmentally friendly,' nor can they use expired certificates to support formulations or packaging that have already changed.
Therefore, what suits a cleaning products project is not an isolated list of certificates, but a versioned evidence table: finished product formulas and raw material identities, intended use and testing methods, packaging structure and material documents, labels and website statements, certificate numbers and validity periods, change records and responsible persons. Every time the formula, fragrance, dosage form, packaging, usage, or marketing copy changes, it triggers an impact review.
The publicly available ODM service page of EPHYON shows that projects can be collaboratively advanced around formulations, fragrances, dosage forms, sampling, packaging, and target markets, and it specifies that claims regarding efficacy, safety, and environmental protection need to be based on applicable tests and documentation. This manufacturing context is suitable for undertaking foundational work that is 'version-consistent,' but it does not mean that EPHYON or any specific product has obtained ISO, EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, or UL ECOLOGO certification.
In actual collaboration, the brand side should first clarify the target market, the labels or certifications to be used, the target claims, and sales channels; the R&D and raw materials teams maintain formula identity and changes; the manufacturer maintains sample sealing, batch, packaging materials, and production versions; testing and certification agencies are only responsible for the agreed-upon scope of samples, methods, and conclusions. Writing these responsibilities into project milestones makes it easier to identify conflicts than to add certifications after the packaging is finalized.
It is also necessary to distinguish between 'voluntary ecolabels' and 'statutory market access.' ISO 14024 provides the principles and requirements for ecolabel programs, while the EPA, Green Seal, and UL each have their own program scopes; they cannot replace the statutory obligations of the target market regarding chemicals, labeling, safety, transportation, or advertising. Whether to apply for a specific certification should be determined jointly by the target market, channel requirements, product category, and the cost of evidence.
Applicable Scope: This document observes standards and processes based on ISO, EPA, FTC, Green Seal, UL, and One Product Clean publicly available information accessible as of September 26, 2026, and does not constitute certification, regulatory, or market entry advice. Any environmental, safety, performance, or certification claims should be individually verified against the specific product version, valid documents, applicable tests, and target market rules.